New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-17

THE WEEK IN ART CIRCLES.

The circulars of the sixty second annual exhibition
Of the National Academy give the time for receiving
pictures from March to March 10 inclusive Lists
made out and sent in to the secretary Mt the
| Academy by March 4. The first view will be- upon
April l. date 1t Is to be hoped, without significance,
and the exhibition will open on April and close May
IL The Norman w. Dodge prize Of $500 for the best
picture painted in the United States by will
be aw arded on April 20. as THE TRIBUNE announced
last week together with the Clarke and Hallgsrten
prizes Now that the Academy has committed itself
to a policy of reform, unusual responsibility
deyoyes upon the committee of selection. Its MEN,
beers are Messrs J. O. A. Ward. James Hart, D. u.
Brown Thomas Moran, Frederick Dielman and X.
Swain Clifford. Two OF the members ut least Will DO
recognized as representing the progressive element.
One is decidedly conservative. The task which awaits
this committee is not onvable one. but ii tho men,
bers will consent to discriminate mpartialy they can
do a valuable service TO the Academy although the
exhibition may be smaller than usual There is
Hanging Committee of seven MEMBERS and it Is
possible hat tor once an Academy exhibition may be
properly arranged The plan of hanging the works OF
Academeians by themselves is worth the consideration
OF this committee.
The sale of the American pictures In the BaIsted
collection was watched with considerable interest
Nearly all the pictures were good in one wav or
another, and the average was uncommoniy high IL Is
not easy to mention collection offered for sale in
which American art, rather landscape art has been
so strongly represented 1t is encouraging to record
the fact that in this good American work received
fair mount of appreciation. The fourteen American
pictures brought $11,320. Only two were sold tor
less than $500. This gives a satisfactory average,
but the point which will impress collectors anxious
for audioous Investments" is that the amount real
lied represents a considerable advance upon the
original cost although the artists with TWO exceptions
still engaged active work. In the absence OF
full list OF cost prices this advance cannot be exactly
given but according to trustworthy estimate these
paintings brought on an average about one-thrd more
than they cost Two those by Mr. lnness and the late
W. Bliss Baker brought more than douOe the cost
prices. The laters picture was sold tor more than
the Daubgny, or Breton, aud hr lnness's much
Betons picture. II il true that the sale was helped
by the collectors large acquantanccship and other
circumstances but this does not materially lessen che
encouraging significance of these results liz IS DIS
honest 70 ndorse the commonplace purely trashy
work which unfortunately Is 100 prevalent, but wnat
can be asked, and what THE TRIBUNE has asked for
years is the full recognition OF American art upon us
merits.
Something has been accomplished. There would be
nothing unusual in collectors expenditure OF
So 600 or even five times that amount in n dealers
gallery. hut IL is certainly uncommon circumstance
for a collector to invest So 900 in pictures during
visit TO American artists studio Yet this occurred
q few days since in this city. Few commissions worth
noting have been gwen TO American artists OF recent
years. but it IL pleasant to know that Mr Robbins
BatteIl. tor whom Mr. Hovenden painted the Last
Dny OF John Brown" has continued his praisewortby
course by awarding to Dir. Delman commission OF
considerable importance. The annual report OF the art
committee OF the Union League Club advocated with
especial emphasis the discriminating encouragement OF
Aintr icau art, and some OF THE TmBUNE's remarks
upon this subject quoted in the report. II this
club filed its gallery with American pictures simpiy
because they American, without regard to their
merit itI exhibitions woud lose their influence
1t would be well Tor artists also to understand that 1t
qua ity rather than quantity which counts and to
show this in their own ,hibitions
The Paris journal lie Matin" published the
following three weeks since Every one knows that |
Met had great difficulty in selling lis AngeIus for
800 francs But an American naUob. NJ. Rockefeller |
has offered $40 900 tor this picture. which the
owner has not willing to give up, tor this
fantastic offer" SO tar as Mr. hockeieller Is con
cerneG, there is lis own authority for denying this
report But private information from Paris indicates
the belief the part OF persons who should know
that such an offer has been made by an American
statements which have been called out by the original
report In lie Matin." The first addition was That |
the in orleans have already o finer painting by |
Baltimore" Nr. Walters himself would be the first
TO contradict this No one who u familiar With the
beautiful group OF Mets on the lett OF the entrance to
his gallery will mention them without respect and |
admiration. bat neither the moonit sheepiod nor tue
Angeus, black and white study tor this picture |
IL included In Mr. Walterss collection. " The Spring
field Republican" then took It's turn at the story and
referring 10 the writer OF the first addition solemny
continued d" II he had known more he might have |
added that America has already the great painting Of
Tne Angelu-.' which was bought when just painted
by Boston connoisseur Who recognized Millet when
be not recognized In France. Secretan has a
smaller picture Tue only truth in this is that
Boston connoissenr, MIR. Quincy Shaw, did give early
recognition to Millets work. and the late W. NJ Hunt,
every knows, was an early admirer oil hiiiet.
!! is impossible TO conceive how the statement could
have been made that 4" The Angclus y Is owned in
Boston, and yet this statement has been copied by
= The boston Herald " without any demur. The an
nouncement that Sccretan has a smaller picture is
|
subject. The Angeus" has been tor years the pride
of NJ Secretary collection, Millcts masterpiece.
picture whose history ought by this time to be familiar
The rapid growth OF lie Mathis story has certainly
been remarkable.
10 Matin also says: Deacfoixs masterpiece,
LAmsnie Honorable which has exceeded the
spm OF 100. 900 francs ut a public sale in Paris
is now In America" This il truo. Delacroixs we'll
known picture OF cathedral interior, monks in process
sion and royal penance IL In this city And
Dclacrox's " Sardanapalus " il also in newborn
De Neuvilles large painting Of "Tel-cl-Kobir.'
" hch hns bean pyrchased by NJ. KDoedler Co. will
be placed upon exhibition ~ the gallery OF this ru in
remembered that at this battle, which occurred on
September Is. 1882, the English troops under Sir
Garnet Nolseey. took by storm the entertainments
md oamp of the Egyptian rebels under AraDi Bey. As
matter of fact one dashing charge gained the day
or the English and the rebels did not oppose heroic
The subject in itself ia tar less impressive
han SUBJECTS chosen by De Melville from the Franco
russian In the picture. which Is ten or twelve
Get in length tho artist has shown the anghsn srSGps
hardly represented, except by lew
lead bodies Perhaps historical accuracy compelled
acit admission that the Egyptians much preferred
unnng away 10 lighting.
new painting by Franz Defregger. Madonna and
,hd" will be placed upon exhibition at the Sohaus
allery to-day Tor tho benefit OF the General Hospital
unf."
When Van Gravesande's etchings exhibited
zero two or three years ago they soon became more
han objects interest curiosity. They cxerted
influence which felt 10 extent by artists ,
veil amateurs. Since that time tew later echings
ma several dry prints have been here, but the
irolier Club exhibition brings the artists work Gown
date satisfactorily cnough on the whole, although Il
he collection Ia not complete Among the familiar
tchngs is the charming " Mill the shore OF the :
serin" which bas such high praise from Mr. Ham
iion. the Lake OF L00sducht.' where movement is
In; ~. md u